by H. G Ahedi
“One thing at a time,” he said as they entered the elevator. “Tell me about this mythical device. Is it very powerful?”
“Yes, once I figure out how to use it.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m going to use it to blast the Imperial Command.”
Emmeline gawked at him. “We’re not doing anything like that! Clear?”
He gulped. “Clear.” The doors of the elevator opened. They rushed down the hangar deck.
“I never thought we’d have to leave like this,” Emmeline said.
“Me neither.”
They came to an abrupt stop. Jacob blocked their path. Three guards stood behind him.
“I knew it! I knew you’d do something foolish!”
Argon could feel Emmeline’s grip tighten around his hand. “Admiral,” he said.
“I don’t believe this!” Jacob yelled looking past Argon.
Argon turned and saw Micah, Byron, and Clio right behind them.
“You’d better let them go,” Byron said, pointing his disruptor at the admiral.
“You shouldn’t be here!” Argon told Byron.
“This is unacceptable! Wrong! I trained you, saved you, and this is how you repay me! Traitors! Don’t you know who I am? You are finished. Did you hear me, finished! I will see that you are crucified!” Jacob shouted like a madman.
The group was stunned. Even the guards glanced at each other.
“He has serious impulse control issues,” muttered Byron.
Argon glared at him.
Titan, Deck 4
It moved swiftly through space. This is so easy, it thought. For a moment, it paused and admired the gigantic structure. It wondered if it could slip inside. This was going to be delightful. It was afraid of being detected, but what could they possibly do to it? It circled the beautiful black structure. Soon, it flew through a window and appeared in a small gray area. It didn’t understand what this place was and thought it was rather confined and peculiar. It floated, ready to leave the area, but then it paused.
A picture on the wall caught its attention. It was of a humanoid creature. Like Aithon. But this one was different. It had a distinct look, with strange attire and peculiar features. At the bottom of the picture were two words: “The Queen.”
It liked it. It wanted to know why Aithon liked to take this form. Focusing on itself, it slowly changed. The blackness came together and began taking shape. It started at the bottom and worked upward. Within minutes, it looked exactly like the person in the picture.
The queen felt exhilarated. She ran her left hand over her right. She touched her face and felt a smooth surface. Her skin was warm and tender. She slowly walked ahead and saw her reflection in the wall. She gently touched the shiny object on her head. The gems in her crown sparkled. She ran her hands all over her body and wondered why she hadn’t tried this before.
Titan, Deck 4
With his scanner in his hand, Adrian almost ran down the corridor. He was detecting an unusual reading. At first, it had appeared near the perimeter. Then it had moved toward Titan and entered the station, easily penetrating the shields. He had already alerted the commander.
Two guards followed him closely. He paused and turned to his left. “Oh,” he muttered when he saw that he had arrived at Evan’s quarters. He pushed the bell and waited. When there was no reply, he pressed the bell again.
Soon, the door opened, and Evan appeared in a loose T-shirt and track pants. “What the hell are you doing here? I’m not on duty until 0800 hours.”
“It’s in here,” Adrian muttered to the guards.
“Whoa! What? What’s in here?” Evan asked, looking around.
Something rattled.
“It’s in there,” Adrian repeated.
“It?”
The doors to the restroom opened, and Evan gasped. “Oh my God!” he said. “She looks exactly . . .”
“Like the singer whose picture hangs in your quarters!” Adrian finished for him.
Evan frowned. “But she’s dead.”
“I wish you hadn’t told me that.”
The queen stood in front of them, wearing a shiny black dress. She looked at her hands as if seeing them for the first time. “Fascinating.”
“Identify yourself,” said one of the guards.
The queen just stared at him.
“Who are you?” asked Adrian.
Her deep blue eyes turned completely black. She flipped her hand, and light sparked through her fingernails. “I am the queen.”
“Stand down.”
The woman’s eyebrows shot up. A flash of light hit the guards, and they disappeared.
“Oh my God!” shouted Evan.
“Get the hell out of here!” Adrian yelled, pushing him. They ran out of the room and down the corridor. “Computer, intruder alert!” shouted Adrian. The alarm sounded throughout the space station.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Evan asked as they ran.
“I never know what you’re thinking!” Adrian shouted glancing over his shoulder.
The queen stepped into the corridor.
“Adrian, I change my mind. I would rather die than turn into a frog!” Evan shouted.
Disagreements
Titan, Deck 10, Docking bay
The alarm startled everyone.
“I thought I disabled it,” Argon said to Emmeline. His eyes widened when he saw a huge figure appear behind the admiral. “Watch out!” he shouted.
The group ducked.
Argon and Micah fired together. The Orias was hit, and with a loud screech, it fell to the ground and disappeared.
“The Orias. How did they get inside?” asked Byron.
“Get to your ships,” Jacob ordered. Three Orias appeared behind Argon and his friends. “Get down!” he yelled and fired.
Titan jolted.
Anastasia’s voice echoed in the corridors. “We are under attack. I repeat: we are under attack! All hands to battle stations! All hands to battle stations!”
Argon and Byron fired. Laser beams hit the Orias, and they turned to dust in seconds. Breathless, Argon looked at Emmeline and then looked past her. “Oh no. Not now,” he murmured.
The group stared through the window at the enormous purple cloud beyond the perimeter.
Titan, Deck 1, Bridge
The command center was buzzing with activity.
“Are the ships ready?” Anastasia asked.
“Commander, the crews are scattered around Titan. They’re trying their best to get to their ships.” Evan replied.
“What about the perimeter shields?”
“They’re holding,” reported Adrian. “Commander, the cloud is back.”
The image on the screen changed. Anastasia gulped as she watched the huge cloud moving at a slow pace.
“If my calculations are correct, in ten minutes, the Orias fleet will be here,” reported Adrian.
Anastasia took a deep breath. “All hands. You have eight minutes to get to your ships before the Orias enter our space. I repeat: you have eight minutes!”
“Commander! We’ve been boarded. I can detect over twenty Orias on Decks 10, 9, and 8,” Evan reported.
A wave of dread came over Anastasia, but she had to make the call. “Computer, activate internal security.”
“Access code required.”
Anastasia jumped to her feet, walked to Evan’s console, and placed her palm on the screen.
“Authorization accepted. Activating internal security.”
Titan, Deck 6, Internal Security
On Deck 6, the dark corridors brightened. Light poured through dozens of opaque doors. The humanoid shadows didn’t move, but red lights on their foreheads began blinking. The red lights disappeared, and the opaque doors slipped away. Through them marched the first robot, then the next, and soon, all corridors were filled with an army of robots. Six of the robots were painted red, and the others were white. The robots stood in fo
rmation behind their commanders.
Anastasia’s face appeared on a screen ahead.
“Commander, Otis reporting for duty.”
Otis was the leader of the robots.
“Otis, eliminate the Orias,” Anastasia said in a cold voice.
“Affirmative.”
The hefty doors opened, and the robots darted out at great speed.
Titan, Deck 10, Docking Bay
The admiral rushed toward Freedom, ordering the squad to engage the enemy.
Argon was confused.
Byron faced him. “This is the best chance you’ll get. Get out. We’ll handle them,”
Clio and Micah nodded.
“No! No!” said Emmeline.
“Go! Just go!” Clio said, rushing down the corridor.
“I think she’s right,” Micah said, following her.
Argon looked at Emmeline.
Byron placed his hand on Argon’s shoulder. “You must leave. I am going to miss you. Watch your back, my friend.”
Argon felt as if someone had stabbed his heart, “You too.”
Giving him a last glance, Byron followed Micah and Clio.
Argon stood in the corridor, looking at the door.
“Argon, go,” said Emmeline.
His heart melted. He wanted to save her. He wanted to save his friends, Titan, everyone. But he had to make a choice. “No. I won’t leave you.”
She placed her hands on his face. “Titan needs you. You wanted to free me; I’m free. I’ll take Raven and disappear.”
His eyes filled with tears. She would be alone. What if something happened to her? He needed to be there to protect her. “No . . .”
“Argon! If Titan is destroyed, everyone will die. You have to protect Titan.”
He was speechless.
“Go. Fight this one. Then come and find me. If you can’t find me, I will find you,” Emmeline said with a small smile.
Argon smiled, and his heart filled with warmth. “I . . .”
“Thank you for not giving up on me.”
To Argon’s utter surprise, Emmeline stepped forward and kissed him.
Titan, Deck 1, Bridge
“Commander, Freedom and Marion have headed for the perimeter, and fifteen squadron ships are following them,” Evan reported. “Four other ships will be ready for launch in the next two minutes.”
“There should be sixteen squadron ships. Who’s missing?”
“Argon.”
“That’s not like him,” said Anastasia. “Commander Waters to Argon. Report.”
There was no answer.
“Commander Waters to Argon. Your squadron is leaving. Report for duty.”
Again, there was no response.
“They’re leaving without their squadron leader?” asked Evan.
“They’re following the admiral’s command,” replied Lieutenant Hawk from tactical.
Anastasia had no time for this. “Show me the cloud.”
The vast purple cloud filled the screen. She twisted her jaw and clenched her teeth tightly. If they wanted to win this one, they needed to change their strategy.
“Commander, internal security has engaged the Orias,” Evan said.
“On screen.”
“Showing Decks 6 and 7,” announced Evan.
Suddenly, the bridge filled with screams. Anastasia sat back. One Orias was attacking a woman. Then one of the robots fired, and the Orias disintegrated. The robots were taking the creatures down, but there were casualties. Anastasia hoped it wasn’t too late. She opened a channel.
“All non-essential personnel report to your quarters. Clear the corridors, observatories, and other public places on the space station. All non-essential personnel report to your quarters now!”
Evan turned to look at her. “It’s going to be tough to control the colonists. They’re frightened.”
That was understandable.
The doors to the bridge opened, and Dr. Kent and Dr. Finch rushed in.
“What the hell is happening?” asked Dr. Kent.
“Doctor, take your station. We’ll need you,” Anastasia said, but she caught him staring at the vast cloud. “Dr. Kent.”
He nodded and rushed toward the station.
“Dr. Finch, you shouldn’t be here.”
“Where do you suggest I go?”
Titan, Deck 10, Docking Bay
Argon fired, and the alien was thrown back. Emmeline handled the other one. The beam drilled through its limbs. The Orias cried out with a deafening screech. Both Argon and Emmeline covered their ears. They fired again, and it perished.
“Good shot!” Argon called.
“They’re hard to miss,” Emmeline said.
“They’re not as strong as their ships.” Argon’s communicator went off.
“Argon. Where are you?” asked his mother.
“Mom! I’m heading to my fighter. Stay in the quarters. Stay there with Selina.”
“Argon, come home at once!” she demanded.
“Mother, please. Just stay in your quarters.”
Titan shook. Then Argon heard a voice he’d hoped he wouldn’t have to hear.
“Argon,” said Selina.
He paused; his heart broke. He knew he was leaving her forever.
“I understand. I can see. I’ll see you on the other side,” she said.
“Selina . . .” His voice faded away when a group of aliens appeared in the corridor.
“They just keep coming!” Emmeline shouted.
The aliens advanced toward them. The doors to the elevator opened, and a group of robots stepped into the corridor. “Step away,” said the lead robot.
“Move aside,” Argon said, shielding Emmeline.
There was an exchange of fire, and the Orias were ambushed quickly. Argon shot down the last one. He looked down at the pile of dead aliens.
The leading robot approached Argon. “Are you all right, sir?”
“Yes. Thank you! Please keep them off this deck.”
“Yes, sir.”
The small group of robots walked down the corridor.
“How did they get in here?” Argon asked Emmeline.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “But they seem . . .”
A shock wave hit Titan, and it shook, causing Argon and Emmeline to lose their balance.
“What was that?” Argon asked, helping Emmeline up.
Emmeline accessed the nearest viewscreen. Six Orias wheels were attacking the perimeter at the same time. “Oh my God!” mumbled Emmeline.
The shock waves hit Titan. Alarms screamed. The lights flickered. Argon grabbed the wall to maintain his balance.
“We’re too late!” Emmeline cried out.
Titan, Deck 1, Bridge
The crew on the bridge stared at the vast fleet of Orias. Several Orias Wheels flew towards the perimeter. All ships fired at once, their beams merging, creating a large fireball that hit the perimeter. Titan jolted again.
“The perimeter shields are down to twenty percent,” Adrian reported sadly.
“Any word from the Prometheus?” she asked Lieutenant Hawk.
“No. I can’t raise her. Something seems to be jamming our signals.”
“Can we send a distress signal to Earth?”
“No. We can’t.”
The space station shook again.
“Engineering, we need to keep the perimeter intact. Any suggestions?” Anastasia said.
“I could pull power from the distant generators and use them to power these. If that’s not enough, we can transfer power from Titan using the receptors,” said Evan.
“Do it!” Anastasia told him. “Open a channel to Freedom.”
“Channel open,” said Evan.
“Admiral, it may not be safe to open the gates—” Anastasia started.
“I know.”
The bridge fell silent. Anastasia rose from her chair.
“Open them anyway,” Jacob’s voice rang out.
Anastasia’s heart sank. “N
o.”
All eyes turned to her, and Jacob’s stunned face appeared on the left side of the screen. “What did you say?”
“I said no. The fleet will not survive if I open the gates. I will not condemn four hundred men and women to their deaths.”
Silence consumed the bridge.
“What do you suggest we do?” asked the admiral acidly.
“Sit back and wait. They’re focusing on one aspect of the perimeter. They will break it, and when they do, we will engage them. Only a few Orias ships will be able to enter our space. It will buy us time, and by then, Prometheus and other ships from Earth can join us.”
“You mean fight like a coward.”
Anastasia felt her blood boil. She had been waiting to play this card. Unfortunately, she knew it could be the wrong time. “Lieutenant Clark, tell me the odds of survival of Freedom and the fleet.”
Jacob’s face turned stony.
“Our scan shows over fifty Orias ships,” reported Tessa. “There’s a big ship at the other end of the battlefield. It stands as if awaiting instructions. If the Earth fleet crosses the gates, death is imminent.”
“Lieutenant Hawk,” Anastasia said. “Do you agree?”
“Affirmative, Commander. We should change our strategy,” said Titan’s tactical officer.
“We’ll all die one day,” said Jacob.
“Yes. We will. But it matters when and for what! Admiral, I cannot let you or the fleet leave,” Anastasia said firmly.
“You have no authority over me.”
“According to our laws, until and unless we have received direct orders from the Imperial Command, we are not supposed to engage a formidable enemy. We are to stand back. To your knowledge, have you received such orders?”
Titan shook.
“They’re attacking us!” Jacob spluttered.
“Admiral, you are wasting our time and resources. We should . . .”
“You don’t understand. We have to win this! We have to destroy them. I cannot lose under any circumstances!”
“Our odds of winning once the fleet crosses the gates are next to none. You have received data and several warnings about the consequences of your actions, and yet you insist on proceeding. This shows that your judgment as commander has been impaired. This is not the first time this has happened and the results could be disastrous. In the view of the Imperial Command law, a commander that leads a fleet to imminent danger and death could be considered suicidal. Based on that fact, I declare that you are not psychologically fit to command. Under Section 234 of the Imperial Command Code, I relieve you of your command!”